Fuel burner assemblies

ABSTRACT

A FUEL BURNER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BURNER, A SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR THE BURNER AND A FIXED STRUCTURE ON WHICH THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE IS MOUNTED, THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND BURNER BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE BURNER IS IN THE HOT ZONE OF A BOILER AND IN WHICH POSITION THE BURNER CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE SINCE A CLAMP CANNOT BE RELEASED, AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE BURNER CAN BE REMOVED   FROM THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE BY RELEASING THE CLAMP, AND THE FIXED STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT STRUCTURE CARRYING RESPECTIVE PARTS WHEREBY THE BURNER CANNOT BE INSERTED INTO THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE UNLESS THE LATTER OCCUPIES ITS SECOND POSITION, THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE CARRYING A VALVE WHICH IS ONLY IN THE ON POSITION WHEN THE BURNER AND SUPPORT STRUCTURE ARE IN THE FIRST AND OPERATIVE POSITION.

Sept- 20, 1971 H. w. L EACH 3,606,610

FUEL BURNER AssEMBLIEs Filed Oct. 3. 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20,1971 H. w. LEAcH FUEL BURNER ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OCT.. 5.1969 fildv sllflk. FA

Sept. 20, 1971 H, w, LEACH 3,606,610

FUEL BURNER ASSEMBLIES FiledOot. 5. 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

5g 5% I LU MMMNQOE United States Patent O1 iice 3,606,610 Patented Sept.20, 1971 land Filed Oct. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 863,590 Int. Cl. F23d .I1/36U.S. Cl. 431--153 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A fuel burnerassembly comprising a burner, a support structure for the burner and afixed structure on which the support structure is mounted, the supportstructure and burner Ibeing movable between a first position in whichthe burner is in the hot zone of a boiler and in which position theiburner cannot be removed from the support structure since a clampcannot be released, and a second position in which the burner can beremoved from the support structure by releasing the clamp, and the fixedstructure and support structure carrying respective parts whereby theburner cannot be inserted into the support structure unless the latteroccupies its second position, the support structure carrying a valvewhich is only in the on position when the burner and support structureare in the lirst and operative position.

This invention relates to fuel burner assemblies for supplying liquidfuel to boilers and has particular, though not exclusive reference tooil burning boilers for ships. The assembly of burners and air chests isusually referred to as an air register.

In air registers of the kind to which the invention relates, it isnecessary that any individual burner shall be withdrawable from theboiler for replacement or maintainance without shutting down the entireboiler. For safety reasons it must not be possible for a supply of fuelto reach the burner or its support structure unless the burner iscorrectly tting in its support structure and is, furthermore, in itsoperating position. It is also, however, required that an individualburner shall be retractable from its operative position to a furtherposition at which the burner nozzle end is out of the hot zone of theboiler. Retraction to this further position must be accomplished bycutting off the fuel supply to this burner.

The object of the invention is to provide a fuel burner assembly of thekind referred to in a form in which the requirements mentioned can bemet.

'In accordance with the present invention -a fuel burner assemblycomprises a burner, a support structure on which the burner is mounted,the support structure being adapted for mounting on a xed structure anda fuel control Valve ou the fixed structure, the support structure beingcapable of occupying a irst position in which the burner is in anoperative position, and a second position in which the burner can bewithdrawn from the support structure, the support structure having, incombination, a burner engaging clamp pivotally mounted on it, the clamponly being releasable when the support structure occupies the secondposition, means for preventing reengagement of the clamp when thesupport structure is in any position except the second position, a valveoperating element arranged to open the fuel control valve on the fixedstructure only when the support structure is moved to its firstposition, and a gravity operated flap for closing an access opening inthe support structure for the burner, when the burner has been Withdrawntherefrom.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying draings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, part cross-sectional view of a burnerassembly constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is an end elevation View of the assembly,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the assembly, and

FIG. 4 is a view of a switch mechanism associated with the assembly.

The assembly illustrated is a liquid fuel supply burner for use in anair register for a ships burner, such a boiler having a plurality ofthese burners arranged with their axes substantially vertically andextending through the top of the boiler.

The burner assembly comprises a burner proper which is indicatedgenerally by numeral 10 in the drawings, this comprises a tubularportion 10a which terminates at the left hand end, as viewed in FIG. l,in a spray nozzle. The other or outer end of the tubular portion 10a issecured to a block 10b in which is provided a fuel passage (not shown)which, when the burner is in its operative position (as illustrated),communicates with a valve 11 mounted upon fixed structure of the boiler,as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 there is another valve 12 which is alsoconnected to the block 10b of the burner proper this valve 12 beingconnected in a spill passage to a reservoir in the associated system.

The pumping apparatus (not shown) in the system provides a quantity offuel in excess of requirements and the excess is drained through thevalve 12. Pipes 13, 14 are illustrated in FIG. 2 communicating with thevalves 11 and 12 respectively.

The valves 11, 12 have respective operating arms 15, 16 which can rbemoved through an angle of between on and olf position. The 'valveclosure members 15, 16 carry at positions spaced from their pivotal axes17, 18 respective rollers 19 and 21. The rollers 19 and 21 engage inrespective shaped slots 22, 23 in a plate 24. The plate 24 is fixed tothe fixed structure of the boiler which is indicated at 25 in FIG. 1.

The slots 22, 23 in the plate 24 are shaped so that when relativemovement between the valves 11, 12 and the plate 24 takes placelengthwise of the assembly, the valve operating arms 1S, 16 Will bemoved through 90. In the positions of the parts illustrated the valvesare open and movement of the valves 11, 12 (in a manner to be described)in a direction to the right as viewed in FIGS. l and 3 will result inswinging of t-he arm 15, 16 so that they lie parallel with the righthand end portions of the slots 212 and 23.

The burner proper 10 is mounted in support structure of which the valves11, 12 are also mounted, this support structure including plates 26, 27through which the burner tubular portion 10 may extend. Fixed to theplates 26, 27 are two further plates 28, 29 bolted together and ahousing 31, which is disposed at the opposite side of the tubularportion 10a of the burner proper 10 from the plates 28 and 29.

It is on to the plates 28, 29 that the valves 11, 12 are secured.Contained within the housing 31 is a weighted flap 32 which tends tomove by gravity towards a position in which it will close olf thetubular opening defined through the housing for reception of the tubularportion 10a of the burner proper 10. As shown, however, with the burnerin position the flap 32 is deected. In FIG. 2 the flap is shown in itsalternative position which it occupies when the burner has beenwithdrawn so as to prevent the escape of fumes from the interior of theboiler when one of the burners have been removed.

The plate 28 also carries a spigot 33 which is disposed to engage in ahole in the block portion '10b of the burner proper for locationpurposes.

Pivotally mounted upon the support structure for the burner about anaxis 34 is a burner engaging clamp. This comprises an arm 35 which atone end has connected to it a screw-threaded spigot 36. Engaging uponthe spigot 36 is a hand wheel 37 having a convex surface 38 which isconcentric with the screw-threaded spigot 36 and which engages with acorrespondingly concave portion on the block b of the burner proper 10.A transverse pin 39 limits travel of the hand wheel 37 with respect tothe spigot 36.

By unscrewing the hand wheel 37 as far as the pin 39 the convex andconcave surfaces of the hand wheel and of the block 10b respectivelybecome disengaged, so that the hand wheel and arm 37 can be swung aboutthe pivotal axis 34 in an upward direction as viewed in FIG. l.

At the opposite end of the arm 35 and on the side of the pivot 34 remotefrom the hand wheel 37 there is secured a ring 41. Defined between thering 41 and the side face of the arm 3S, lwhich is uppermost in FIG. 1,there is defined a generally D-shaped opening.

Mounted upon the fixed platev 24 is a tubular housing 42 containing acompression spring 43 urging a piston 44 downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1.The piston 44 carries a spigot 45 which, at its outer end, carries asperpendicularly disposed D-cross-section part 46 as well as a shapedblock 47. The D-shaped part 46 extends from the axis of the piston inthe direction of the nozzle end of the burner and `the block 47 extendsoutwardly in the opposite direction from the piston spigot 45.

An extension 48 of the plate 27 of the support structure for the burnerhas its end shaped at 49` to correspond with the shape of the block 47.This block 47 is provided with an inclined surface lwhich can engagewith the correspondingly inclined surface of the shaped end 49 of theextension 48, `for a purpose to be later explained.

Extending from the fixed structure is an abutment bar 50 which isdisposed adjacent to the arm 35 to lie against one edge of it when inthe position illustrated. This bar 50 prevents swinging of the arm 3Sabout the axis 34.

The burner proper is intended to occupy either of two positions. Thefirst position is that shown in which the burner proper 10 and thesupport structure are moved as far as possible to the left as viewed inFIG. l so that the nozzle end of the `burner is disposed in the hot zoneof the boiler. The valves 11 and 12 are open and are engaged in theirrespective passages in the block 10b of the burner proper 10. From thisposition it is not possible to relieve the clamp yby unscrewing the handwheel 37 and swinging the hand wheel end of the arm 35 upwardly, becausethe hand wheel 37 itself will engage with the underside of the plate 24.Furthermore, the abutment bar 50 lprevents this swinging movement.

The second position which the assembly can occupy, however, is that fromwhich the burner can be withdrawn. To reach this position the burner andsupport structure are drawn to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, to aposition in which the D-shaped part 46 will engage with the ring 41. Thehand wheel 37 will have reached a position in which it Iwill pass theend of the plate 24 and the end portion of the arm 35 will enter a slot51 formed in that plat 24. The arm 35 will, furthermore, no longer beprevented from swinging by the abutment bar 50.

Having swung the hand wheel 37 and lever 35 out of the path of theburner proper 10, the latter can be withdrawn simply by pulling it tothe right. The valves 11, 12 will have been closed during travel of theentire assembly to the right so that no spillage of fuel will takeplace.

When the burner proper 10 is fully withdrawn the flap 32 will swingunder the action of its weight to close the opening, but when it isdesired to reinsert the burner proper 10, its end portion will engage aprojection 32a on the flap 32 to move it out of the path of the burnerproper.

When the burner proper 10 is out of the assembly and the supportstructure is in its second position, the block 47 -with the spigot 45will have moved downwardly under the action of the spring 43 and onto asurface 52 of the extension 48. If now an attempt is made to move thesupport structure to the left, the block 47 will engage in the formation49 preventing such movement. This also prevents movement of the arm 35to secure block 10 without first retracting the moving structure fullyto the right as shown in FIG. 1.

It is therefore impossible to move the support structure, without theburner being present, to a position in which the valves 11, 12 can beturned on.

As an additional safety measure to ensure that the fuel cannot `beturned on when the burner is in any position but the first operativeposition, there is an electrical switch 53 which is arranged in acircuit for controlling a valve (not illustrated) in the fuel supplysystem. The switch is secured to the fixed structure 25 of the boilerand has an operating member 54 engaging a rod 55 carried by the supportstructure plate 27. The rod 55 is spring loaded such that its end isurged away from the switch S3, but its opposite end engages a stop `56which is carried on the side of the block portion 10b of the burnerproper.

It will be observed that when the burner is in its operative positionthe fuel will be turned on, but any movement of the burner and supportstructure to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, will result in turning offthe valves 11, 12 and causing the circuit through the switch 53 tobecome broken. No fuel can thus reach the burner unless it is in itsfully operative position. If it is desired to withdraw the burner fromthe boiler and to remove the burner proper from the support structure,the assembly is moved to the second position and the clamp can then bereleased. The support structure cannot, when the burner has beenremoved, be moved in the first position because the clamp will preventthis occurrence, as will the block 47 of the piston 44.

If, however, it is desired simply to withdraw a burner from the boilerwithout removing the burner proper from the support structure, theburner is simply moved to its second position.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fuel burner assembly comprising a burner, a support structure onwhich the burner is mounted, the support structure being adapted formounting on a xed structure and a fuel control valve on the fixedstructure, the support structure being movable between a first positionin which the burner is in an operative position, and a second positionin which burner can be Withdrawn from the support structure, the supportstructure having, in combination, a burner engaging clamp pivotallymounted on it, the clamp only being releasable when the supportstructure occupies the second position, means for preventingreengagement of the clamp when the support structure is in any positionexcept the second position, a valve operating element arranged to openthe fuel control valve on the fixed structure only when the supportstructure is moved to its first position, and a gravity operated flapfor closing an access opening in the support structure for the burner,when the burner has been withdrawn therefrom.

2. A fuel burner assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixedstructure has a part which obstructs the releasing movement of the clampwhen the support structure is in its first position.

3. A fuel burner assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the means forpreventing reengagement of the clamp when the support structure is inany position except the second position comprises an extension on thesupport structure and a member carried by the fixed structure andengageable with a formation on said extension to prevent reengagement ofthe clamp except when the support structure carries the burner and is inthe second position, movement of the support structure towards the firstposition, when the burner has been removed, also being prevented by saidmember and formation.

4. A fuel burner assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which the membercarried by the lixed structure comprises a spring loaded piston which isurged by its spring loading in a direction which is transverse to thedirection of movement of the support structure relatively to the xedstructure, said piston carrying a part which is engageable with saidformation on the support structure.

5. A fuel burner assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the valveelement is a slot formed in a plate forming part of the xed structure,and a pin carried on the valve and engaging in the slot, the valve beingcarried by the support structure so that movement of the supportstructure between the rst and second positions serves to move the valvebetween its on and off positions.

6. A fuel burner assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which there are twovalves having respective valve operating elements, one of the valvescontrolling the supply of fuel to the burner and the other controllingthe spill of fuel in excess of requirements.

7. A fuel burner assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which an electricalfuel supply switch is arranged only to permit fuel supply to reach saidvalve when the support structure occupies its first position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,565,831 8/1951 White 431-1232,778,686 1/1957 Daniel 431-153X 2,838,104 6/ 1958 Midtlymg 431-153X2,876,983 3/1959 Martensson et al. 431-153X 3,267,988 8/1966 Schott431-153 EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner

